Vert-Vert is a parrot who gets a right royal funeral. A shoal of lively young ladies, students at the posh finishing school where Vert-Vert resided, reverently lay him to rest in a luxurious miniature coffin. Admiring eulogies are delivered — they scrupulously avoid insensitive expressions like “dropped off his perch”, or any reference to the fact that the deceased had recently learnt some most unsuitable swear words.

Thus begins Offenbach’s eponymous operetta, which receives its UK premiere — only heavily altered chunks having been seen before — by Garsington Opera, after its season-opener with a revival of its 2009 production of Beethoven’s Fidelio (to be reviewed next week).

In due course, a school servant called Valentin is rechristened Vert-Vert, and is duly decked out in an appropriate green and yellow outfit. Valentin (feelingly sung and characterised by Robert Murray) is perhaps not mother’s brightest, but he delivers some heartfelt observations about the pangs of young love — as do sparky schoolgirls Mimi, Bathilde and Emma (Fflur Wyn, Raphaela Papadakis, and Katie Bray, all names to watch).

The storyline becomes increasingly rambling as Vert-Vert sets out to discover the world beyond the school gates, accompanied by prickly gardener Binet (Mark Wilde). Among many others, he meets singer La Corilla, who has a very high opinion of herself — Naomi O’Connell is going to have increasing fun with this role. Offenbach is surely poking fun at tiresome divas he has encountered here — and is it Offenbach who has La Corilla proclaiming that she prefers singing to a “noisy crowd” rather than “operagoers dressed in furs”, or has Garsington conductor David Parry, who did the English translation, cheekily added that in? There is also a hilarious ballet class back at the school, presided over by mincing teacher Baladon (Geoffrey Dolton).

The production is strongly sung by all concerned, and immaculately staged — the French chateau set design is gorgeous (Francis O’Connor).

Director Martin Duncan makes the most of every possible comic opportunity, but there aren’t that many of them by Offenbach’s standards. The score is top-notch though, and it’s lyrically delivered by Parry and the Garsington Opera Orchestra.

Vert-Vert
Garsington Opera at Wormsley
Until July 9
Book: 01865 361636 garsingtonopera.org